During his playing days, Willie Roaf was known for being one of the best blindside blockers in professional football.
His legendary career began in 1989 when he received an athletic scholarship to play football for Louisiana Tech. There, he put together a sensational college career as an offensive lineman, thanks to his blocking ability and remarkable speed. In 1992, Roaf finished his senior year as a consensus first-team All-American.
In 1993, Roaf was drafted into the NFL by the New Orleans Saints with the eighth overall pick. Roaf was the first o-lineman selected in that year’s draft and would spend the next nine seasons with the Saints. Roaf started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie, earning All-Rookie honors. The following season, he was switched to left tackle, where he continued to play at a high level. Over the next two consecutive seasons, Roaf was named first-team All-Pro, All-NFC, and honored as the NFLPA’s NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also named to the Pro Bowl for the first time and would make the All-Star game seven consecutive seasons with the Saints organization (1994-2000).
Over nine years playing in New Orleans, Roaf started 131 games and appeared in two postseason games. In 2001, however, Roaf faced adversity suffering a knee injury that cut his season short to just seven games. As he prepared for the upcoming season, the Saints traded Roaf to the Kansas City Chiefs just before the 2002 NFL Draft in exchange for a third-round draft choice.
In 2002, Roaf regained his form and became a crucial piece in Kansas City’s stout o-line unit of the early 2000s, earning All-Pro honors and being named to the Pro Bowl in four of the five seasons he played in Kansas City. Roaf played a significant role, protecting Trent Green’s blindside and sealing the edge for Priest Holmes in Dick Virmeil’s high-powered offense, which led the NFL in points scored in 2002 and 2003.
The Chiefs’ offense also led the AFC and the NFL in total yards in each of his final four seasons with the club. Roaf decided to call it a career just ahead of the 2006 season, as the Chiefs were reporting to training camp.
In 13 NFL seasons, Roaf played in 189 games and was named first-team All-NFL seven times (1994-96, 2000, 2003-05), All-NFC six times, and All-AFC three times. He was also voted to 11 Pro Bowls and is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2012, Roaf was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
